Spreading out for log cabin cutting!

New counter was perfect height!

They couldn't wait for the finishing touches in the classroom!

The first class in the new room at Lee Anthony Fabric and The Vermont Sewing School was scheduled for February 4.  If you’ve ever been in this building, you know that it is very old and not built straight, presenting a multitude of construction challenges…sort of like some of our quilts.

But, Johny worked late into the night getting the room usable for the class.  This all would not have been possible if not for his perseverance and patience.

We are using Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day Underground Railroad Book for this sampler class, but are not following the sequence of blocks as presented in the book.  So, much to everyone’s surprise, we started with the Log Cabin block and then went to the Underground Railroad (Jacob’s Ladder) block.  With the techniques in these two, participants can complete the Monkey Wrench, Basket, Shoo Fly and Sail Boat on their own this month. We’ll post pictures when the blocks are complete.

But, when the finishing touches are complete this week in the classroom, you can come in to sew whenever there is not a class in the room.  Come join us for the fun or bring your own project!

This book just arrived at Lee Anthony Fabric and offers fascinating information on First Ladies, Martha Washington, Lucy W. Hayes, Frances Folsom Cleveland, Dolley Payne Todd Madison, Anna Harrison, Eleanor Roosevelt and Mary Todd Lincoln…my favorite was Anna Harrison.  The blocks are traditional patterns selected from Block Base and Encyclopedia of Pieced Quilt Blocks by Barbara Brackman, 1993.

The best part of this book for me is the wide variety of photographs with different color combinations and layouts for these blocks.  Stop in and check it out.

Customers came and went and the girls worried they were in the way decorating the tree.  Everyone assured them it was wonderful and to continue making Lee Anthony Fabric festive!

Christmas decorating 2011

Our tree decorating elves!

Happy holidays…stay safe and warm!

Diana & Johny

Sewing is a skill and once, learned in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere will provide many hours of pleasure for children and adults.  Mom taught me well so when we had to take sewing in school it was easy.  But, as I was reminded recently, most of my friends disliked the class and many never sewed again!

For young and old here, the emphasis will be on learning a skill at your own pace without getting stressed out!  We believe this new venture will be a great addition to Lee Anthony Fabric.

There are special holiday gift bags for $7.50 and $12.50 for any of the quilters on your list as well as gift certificates for classes, books, patterns and fabric.  The gift bags include a discount coupon for January.   Just received several sewing kits…Singer and Dritz…for those new young sewers in the family.

Class listing will be posted over the weekend.  Renovations in the classroom are proceeding steadily…current discussion is on what colors and textures for the walls.  If you have any suggestions, let us know.

Drive carefully, shovel slowly, and have a relaxing Thanksgiving!

Although quilters may use other terms than web designers, Cameron has included the use of proportion, priority, rhythm and unity and information on how to look at designs in this book.  With hundreds of photos and information written in a conversational tone, this book will be useful to all of us who want to design a quilt but are hesitant or lack confidence.

Cameron’s book is available through www.Amazon.com

Just to let you all know…Cameron is my daughter and I am very proud of her accomplishments.  She always wanted to write and her dreams are coming true.  This is her second published non-fiction book and she has published a fiction series, The Steam and Steel Chronicles.   Some of you may have met her at the store or the quilt show and seen the quilt she made for her grandmother when she was 16.    If you see Cameron’s book, you will know that she takes much better pictures than I do.

Cameron’s first quilt, hand sewn nine-patch and dahlia blocks with buttonhole stitch around each petal.

Christmas TableRunner

Fabric:  Cut two 12 1/2″ squares

Cut eight 4 1/2″ squares of a fabric that is directional…for example, the one used in the class picture had Christmas ornaments which should be hung in the right direction in all corners.

Cut three 12 1/2′ x 2 1/2″ strips of a contrasting color

Cut two 30 1/2″ strips of the same contrasting color (If you want to add squares in the strip to meet the vertical strips, you will have to six 12 1/2″ strips and six 2 1/2″ squares of your center square fabric.)

To get the directional fabric in the correct directions, lay a 4 1/2″ square in each corner of the 12 1/2″ squares.  The two small squares on the top must face in toward the middle of the larger square.  The two small squares on the bottom must face out from the middle.  In other words, if you have cats in your directional fabric, the head of the cat faces toward the middle on the top and toward the outside on the bottom.

Mark the squares on the diagonal and stitch on that line.  Flip the triangle up toward the top…everything should be right side up this way.  Cut off the excess underneath fabric leaving a 1/4″ seam.  Flip the triangles down toward the bottom and proceed in the same way.

To finish sew a 2 1/2″ strip between the two squares and one each on the outer edge.  Sew the long strip to the top and bottom.

From this point you can additional borders to make a longer and/or wider table runner.  Add batting and backing to finish.  I like to use the envelope and turn method and just slip-stitch the turning opening.

Enjoy!

Ellen's Northern Star

A new addition at Lee Anthony Fabric are quilts made by Ellen Wilder, a Northeast Kingdom quilter.  When I spoke with Ellen about quilting recently, I was astounded when I learned she had only been quilting since 2005!  Her mother taught her to sew when she was four, but she never attempted quilting.  She learned from several excellent quilters in the Northeast Kingdom…Sharon Fuller, Deb Stresing, Nola Forbes and Charlotte Downes.  She has worked with and learned from members of the East Burke Quilt group and the Kirby Quilters.   Learning from books written by nationally known quilter, Eleanor Burns of Quilt in a Day, Ellen sells her quilts and has displayed quilts at local fairs and quilt shows.

In this short time, Ellen has contributed over 100 quilts to Project Linus, and many others to local community libraries, the Caledonia County Fair, Kingdom Animal Shelter and others.   Ellen’s generosity and those of all other Northeast Kingdom quilters is greatly appreciated by all who have received their quilts.

Ellen's May Basket

Snowball Block Table Top

Fabric needed:

Two 9″ squares of focus fabric; six 2″ squares (red/pink poinsetta above)

Eight 3 1/2″ squares of second fabric; two 21 1/2″ x 2″ strips; two 15 1/2″ x 2″ strips (green Christmas bulbs)

Seven 9″  x 2″ inch strips of third fabric (pink fern)

Steps:

Sew the 3 1/2″ squares on diagonal on sides of 9″ squares.  If the second fabric is directional, be sure to turn sideways with design pointing in toward middle of square…when you cut and fold back the triangle, the design will be right side up and pointing in the right way…NO UPSIDE DOWN CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS!

Sew 9″x2″ strips to top and bottom of snowball squares.  Sew 2″ square of first fabric to each end of other 9″x2″ strips; sew to sides and one in middle of two blocks.

Sew border strips of second fabric to top and bottom; then to each side.  Back with one of these fabrics or one of your choosing.

This is a quick and easy table top!  Enjoy.

The tablerunner below is made with the Harvest Market fabrics…

I’ll post other suggestions as the temperatures drop and we begin thinking more about the holidays…enjoy.